The Swiss federal government has given a multimillion swiss franc grant to a climate tech start up and a scientific research institute, funding an e-SAF production test facility.
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Energy will provide SFr4.4m ($4.9m) to Zurich-based Metafuels and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), with its campus in the north of Switzerland.
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The partners will further develop Metafuels’ “aerobrew” SAF technology. According to the company, its proprietary technique can convert green methanol into e-SAF, from responsibly sourced ingredient chemicals.
“Green methanol is a chemical produced from green hydrogen (H₂) and sustainably sourced carbon dioxide. Green H₂ can be generated from water electrolysis driven by renewable electricity, whilst CO₂ can be captured from biogenic sources including wastes and residues in the short-term—and through direct air capture in the long-term,” Metafuels explained.
The company claimed its technology would allow highly efficient and “ultra-high yield” of e-SAF output. It added the fuel would lead to a 90% reduction in lifecycle emissions.
The new facility on the PSI campus in Villigen will aim to prove the company and institute’s developments can be brought to market with large-scale production and deployment.
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By GlobalDataA key facet of the demonstration will be showing the ability for airlines to use 100% e-SAF without re-engineering or modifying their planes or engines.
The pilot plant will be built as part of the Energy System Integration Platform, part of SPI that focuses on testing energy conversion processes for industry, and scaling up successful technologies.
“Thanks to our expertise in both basic research and engineering sciences, as well as our many years of experience in the development and operation of such large-scale systems, our collaboration with Metafuels will accelerate the implementation of this novel technology for the decarbonization of the aviation industry,” said Marco Ranocchiari, head of the ESI platform at PSI.
Saurabh Kapoor, CEO and co-founder of Metafuels explained the company focused specifically on e-SAF, and why it won the Swiss federal grant.
“International business travel – powered by aviation – as well as the exporting of key Swiss goods – represent a significant proportion of the Swiss economy, and a key challenge to overcome in decarbonising the Swiss economy. Two of our major airports, Zurich and Geneva, are both international transportation hubs connecting passengers East to West and across Europe – so decarbonising our aviation industry will also play a role in the mission to decarbonise the global economy.”
“We are proud to secure this grant, not only for the important work it will fund to bring our technology to life – but what it represents, placing us at the heart of an increasingly innovative, start up-oriented Swiss economy,” he added.
